Like mowing the lawn and taking out the trash, shuttering a home ahead of hurricane is a way of life for Treasure Coast residents.

Hurricane Dorian proved predictions can be a gamble regardless how closely meteorologists count the cards. It also showed shutters are a necessary evil of life in the tropics.

Residents weigh considerations like seasonal hurricane predictions, a storm’s likely path, the labor involved or multiple costly installations while choosing how to protect their homes and belongings in hurricane season.

But, the when of it all—- when the shutters go up and when they come down — is largely a matter of personal preference, or the discretion of a homeowners association.

A county fire official said from an emergency personnel perspective, access to the home was most important.

“If you’re living in a house, yes, have the shutters up," said Battalion Chief Kyle Kofke, Indian River County Fire Rescue spokesman. "Once the threat of the hurricane has passed we recommend you take the shutters down.”

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Dr. Sean Waugh (left), with the National Severe Storms Laboratory with NOAA, prepares to launch a helium-filled weather balloon on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, from the boardwalk at Conn Beach. A sensor on the balloon will measure air temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

A team from the National Severe Storm Laboratory with NOAA prepares to launch a helium-filled weather balloon on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, from the boardwalk at Conn Beach. A sensor on the balloon will measure air temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed using lateral movement with GPS. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

A team from the National Severe Storm Laboratory with NOAA prepares to launch a helium-filled weather balloon on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, from the boardwalk at Conn Beach. A sensor on the balloon will measure air temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed using lateral movement with GPS. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

A team from the National Severe Storm Laboratory with NOAA prepares to launch a helium-filled weather balloon on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, from the boardwalk at Conn Beach. A sensor on the balloon will measure air temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed using lateral movement with GPS. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

A team from the National Severe Storm Laboratory with NOAA prepares to launch a helium-filled weather balloon on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, from the boardwalk at Conn Beach. A sensor on the balloon will measure air temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed using lateral movement with GPS. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

A team from the National Severe Storm Laboratory with NOAA prepares to launch a helium-filled weather balloon on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, from the boardwalk at Conn Beach. A sensor on the balloon will measure air temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed using lateral movement with GPS. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

A team from the National Severe Storm Laboratory with NOAA prepares to launch a helium-filled weather balloon on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, from the boardwalk at Conn Beach. A sensor on the balloon will measure air temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed using lateral movement with GPS. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

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Then there is the added step of cutting through or tearing down the shutters if firefighters or paramedics had to enter the home through its windows.

"Our recommendation," Kofke said. "Once the threat of the hurricane has passed we’re (saying) you should get your shutters down and store them safely away."

What does the HOA say?

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Robert McCabe tries to fix a stuck hurricane shutter at the Ocean Chateau of Vero Beach in preparation for Hurricane Matthew on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. McCabe, who is the president of the homeowner's association, has been putting up shutters this week with other members of the staff. McCabe is hoping to ride out the storm in his unit in the building.(Photo: MOLLY BARTELS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

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Staff did not have time to take down the plywood covering the windows at Vic's Italian Pizza Restaurant. Instead, they just spray-painted 'OPEN' to let patrons know they would be serving lunch on Sept. 4, 2019, in Sebastian. IAN LOVE/TCPALM

The Mo Bay Grill in Sebastian was shut down on Sept. 3, 2019 due to the coming threat of Hurricane Dorian. chef/owner Wesley Campbell expects to open with a full menu as soon as Dorian clears the area. IAN LOVE/TCPALM

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Donna Schipke, of Vero Beach, leans over the railing of the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to view the major erosion of the dunes caused by the the high surf and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. "I came out here everyday to take photos and video of the erosion," Schipke said. "It seems like the city just finished filling this in from the last hurricane. Now they have to start all over again." PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Treasure hunters work at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, walking the beach and taking photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Local community members gathered at the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to walk the beach and take photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Local community members gathered at the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to walk the beach and take photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Local community members gathered at the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to walk the beach and take photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Local community members gathered at the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to walk the beach and take photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Local community members gathered at the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to walk the beach and take photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Local community members gathered at the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to walk the beach and take photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Local community members gathered at the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to walk the beach and take photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Local community members gathered at the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to walk the beach and take photos of the erosion caused by high wind and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

Donna Schipke, of Vero Beach, leans over the railing of the boardwalk at Conn Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, to view the major erosion of the dunes caused by the the high surf and waves as Hurricane Dorian passed by the Treasure Coast. "I came out here everyday to take photos and video of the erosion," Schipke said. "It seems like the city just finished filling this in from the last hurricane. Now they have to start all over again." Patrick Dove/TCPALM

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Large waves have been crashing onto the shore and spilling water and sea foam into the parking lot and street Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. Sara Marino/TCPALM

Large waves have been crashing onto the shore and spilling water and sea foam into the parking lot and street Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. Sara Marino/TCPALM

Large waves have been crashing onto the shore and spilling water and sea foam into the parking lot and street Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. Sara Marino/TCPALM

Large waves have been crashing onto the shore and spilling water and sea foam into the parking lot and street Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. Sara Marino/TCPALM

Large waves have been crashing onto the shore and spilling water and sea foam into the parking lot and street Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. Sara Marino/TCPALM

Large waves have been crashing onto the shore and spilling water and sea foam into the parking lot and street Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. Sara Marino/TCPALM

Large waves have been crashing onto the shore and spilling water and sea foam into the parking lot and street Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. Sara Marino/TCPALM